School board member Jackie Brown, right, congratulates teachers Terri Reichert, left, and Jim Vasko, center, on Eagle Point's "Excellent with Distinction" rating as she hands out cupcakes.

Rossford rated 'Excellent' for third year
By Beth Church
The Rossford School District was rated "Excellent" for the third consecutive year by the Ohio Department of Education, and for the first time, one building, Eagle Point Elementary, received an "Excellent with Distinction."
The state report cards for the 2009-10 school year were released last week. The ratings used by the state are, in order, Excellent with Distinction, Excellent, Effective, Continuous Improvement, Academic Watch and Academic Emergency.
Ratings are determined by looking at four types of measures: 26 state indicators, a performance index score, adequate yearly progress, and value-added.
Rossford met 22 of the 26 state indicators, which are based on assessments taken by students throughout the school year as well as the district's attendance and graduation rates.
In grades K-8, the assessments cover reading, math and science. In high school, they cover reading, math, writing, science and social studies.
The district failed to meet state indicators in fifth grade reading and math, eighth grade science, and the district-wide graduation rate, which was 88.1 percent in 2008-09.

'To turn around northwest Ohio, we have to do it together'
Toledo Mayor Mike Bell speaks to Perrysburg Rotary Club
By Deb Buker
Since the beginning of his first term as mayor of the City of Toledo, Mike Bell has advocated for cooperation and regionalism. It is not just about Toledo, it is about all of northwest Ohio-his mantra.
"With the City of Toledo and the things we have to do here in northwest Ohio, we are in focus of some things that are extremely tough in some ways and not as tough if we do it together," Mayor Bell told more than 100 Rotarians and guests at a recent luncheon meeting of the Perrysburg Rotary Club. "In order for us to be able to turn around northwest Ohio, we have to do it together. It means we all have to be in sync in the things we are going to be requesting when it comes to governmental issues that we are prepared to help our region with, and we need to be able to sit down and to talk to each other. Be able to sit in a room and say, 'this is an important thing for our region.'"
Currently, said the mayor, area officials and administrators are in the discussion process of how to utilize water resources. What would a regional water plan look like? How does the area situate itself to use the Great Lakes water to create energy that is necessary to make northwest Ohio strong?

Fireworks, boat parade, Fun at the Fountain at Labor Day Fest Saturday
By Jane Maiolo
Rossford is celebrating this year's Labor Day holiday with a full day of fun family activities.
The celebration on Saturday, September 4, will begin with activities for families and children sponsored by the city parks and recreation department.
Ivan Kovacevic, city director of parks and recreation, is planning the following events:
•Family Cornhole Tournament, noon, Veterans Memorial Park.
Entry forms and information is available at www.ross fordrecreation.com.
•Open house with family and youth activities at the RCRC, 3 to 11:45 p.m. Activities include open gym, arts and crafts, face painting, pop-a-shot, Nintendo Wii and more.
Parents attending the Fun at the Fountain after 9 p.m. can drop off children for a movie and popcorn at the RCRC.
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Labor Day Fest fund-raising exceeds goal
By Beth Church
The fund-raising efforts to cover the cost of fireworks at this year's Hometown Labor Day celebration have paid offÐand then some.
The Rossford Business Association is coordinating the campaign to raise $5,800 in donations from local businesses and residents to pay for the September 4 event.
RBA member Justin Knierim of Edward Jones, who is chairing the fund-raising committee, said the support has been outstanding, exceeding the goal.
As of presstime, businesses and residents have donated $6,500 toward the expense, he said.
"This is excellent," he said. "We're very pleased to raise this on such short notice, basically about a month and a half.
I think it speaks volumes about our community, the unity here. It's great to see the businesses and citizens come together."
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Area School Report Cards
Excellent with Distinction:
Lake, Ottawa Hills, Springfield
Excellent
Anthony Wayne, Bowling Green, Eastwood, Maumee, Perrysburg, Rossford, Sylvania, Washington Local
Effective
Elmwood, Genoa, Northwood, Oregon, Otsego
Continuous Improvement
Toledo